Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor

Beta Schedule

Frogboy

The second expansion pack to Galactic Civilizations II is about to go into beta. For Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor, we're going to try something different. Something that we think will be particularly fun.

The biggest single feature of the expansion pack isn't the Terror Stars, which are admittedly pretty cool. And it's not the map editor, campaign editor or scenario editor which do add a lot of new possibilities. And it's not even the Metaverse tournaments, which will probably be pretty popular. Nor is it the updated graphics which do bring Galactic Civilizations II up to a whole new level. No, it's the unique technology trees per player.

Let me emphasize this: The fact that each of the 12 major races will have their own technology trees we think is a major milestone for this type of game. The implications of it are far-reaching since technology trees are from whence ship components, planetary improvements, etc. come from.

Let me further add that these technology trees are not just cosmetic changes. Let me give you a couple of examples: The Arceans don't get Warp Drive or any other higher level propulsion techs. Instead, they have special factories unique to them that allow them to make their own ships faster. The Yor don't have factories but instead have collectives that produce based on their population. And, did we mention...these techs are tradeable back and forth. But thanks to a new AI enhancement (a willingness to trade a particular tech variable) tech trading will become vastly more intelligent.

So for the beta, to reward the users who are pre-ordering the beta (and hence funding this project) we are doing something special: The betas will introduce the unique technology trees in small groups so that players can really see the impact of them and have a chance at being introduced to them and be able to make suggestions on how they can be tweaked.

Okay, now I have a new reason to preorder. *ahem* But what I wonder is if when you make a new custom race, you'll get options to modify the custom race tech tree from within the game...or if the custom race will only be using the generic tech tree unless you modify the tech tree outside of the game by tweaking the .xml?

Either way, this looks like it ought to be rather fun! And it seems fitting that the Terran Alliance and the Drengin get their new tech trees first - that way, we also get to see how these tech trees really affect battle in the new AARs produced by the resident AI expert! Boffo!

I was probably an inevitable pre-order customer and finally gave in a short while ago and did the clicks that cost me money. As one of the Merry Hecklers around here, I must register a complaint that could strike some of my fellow players as insane: You are setting too tight a schedule for beta releases. And, I sincerely hope this decision isn't driven by some marketing person's fascination with the great idea of unique tech trees. (Please see recent Dilbert strips re marketing)

I'm griping about the weekly update schedule because I'm a big map, long game player. During the DA beta, I had some real frustration trying to keep a game going across releases, but it was hard to get really feisty about that because I know what "beta" means in a paycheck-driven environment. The TA project incluedes options for even larger galaxies. If the Stardock devs want to offer more to my type of player, why is the beta still scheduled so that only short-game and or intense maxmizer players can hope to try for a meaningful game under a given build?

Dude Sweet. Stardock always giving so much. I can't wait for the beta! OH YA! Only problem is I have to wait for the Thalan Tech Tree, otherwise OMG YES! And I have to wait for the expansion lol. This why I preordered early so long ago. Good choice for just picking a tech tree for custom races. Also are you going to add a few more points for abilities for custom races... please, just a little..., 3-5 maybe...don't make me beg... lol. Thanks Stardock.

i tried to pre-order a couple weeks ago and accidentally overdrew my account (i would have waited, but i didn't want to miss my chance). i'm on a monthly salary, and i'm fine now - contacted sales and asked if i should re-order or if they'd take prefer to care of it on their end, and hopefully things will be taken care of Monday. glad i didn't miss my chance - really looking forward to this.

I totally agree. I am also very suspicious that you could be handing us the cheese platter here. Therefore this Beta s not only about finding the usual small bugs, but also about tweaking the game balance a lot. Tis cannot be done in a week - especially for larger maps!Example:So I have normal propulsion and can trade for special propulsion tech (or better yet: steal it when I conquer a planet). Well then I'll take a hyperwarp civ and add the special tech on top of that to get Uber-Warp drives.

Sounds a bit harmless for warp drives (also it might upset engine nerfing). Well, if I can do the same with my economy or other factors, I can unbalance the game in ways no AI in the world has a chance against (or are you telling me that your AI can handle something so complex as well?)

I totally agree. I am also very suspicious that you could be handing us the cheese platter here. Therefore this Beta s not only about finding the usual small bugs, but also about tweaking the game balance a lot. Tis cannot be done in a week - especially for larger maps!Example:So I have normal propulsion and can trade for special propulsion tech (or better yet: steal it when I conquer a planet). Well then I'll take a hyperwarp civ and add the special tech on top of that to get Uber-Warp drives.

Sounds a bit harmless for warp drives (also it might upset engine nerfing). Well, if I can do the same with my economy or other factors, I can unbalance the game in ways no AI in the world has a chance against (or are you telling me that your AI can handle something so complex as well?)

Sorry for being so pessi/realistic about this.

Or, as has been suggested by devs in couple of threads, some techs are totally unique and can't be used by other civs?

Now this is what I call Moving to Bigger and better with a more realisting twist on the Civilization. After all not everyone can come up with he same Ideal in technologie that the other Races. Well done Guys.

I really don't understand all the critiques before the product. Some people take weeks if not months to play on very large maps now. I personally don't want to wait for them to proceed with the betas (or is that betum?) before we continue down the path. Of course there are going to be bugs and the like in the product. Its a human endeavor afterall, but good heavens, Stardock does backflips to accomodate our requests and is constatntly tweaking and attempting to make it bettter. This is unparalled in this industry.

Thanks stardock for including us and we'll make every attempt to wring every problem out so when we finally get the release it will be as good as possible! Only problem is I already devote way too much of my life playing this game now....just couldn't do any more even if I like it better.

Stardock does backflips to accomodate our requests and is constatntly tweaking and attempting to make it bettter. This is unparalled in this industry.

i agree here. while a week to test 3 new tech trees and attempt to achieve 'balance' probably won't happen, it should be time to catch glaring problems. despite the excitement, the beta-testing group will not be able to provide enough feedback no matter what. every best tester needn't try out every tech tree for SD to benefit from the public test - a few players responding to the terran tree, while a few others to the drengin, etc, might actually be better for them, rather than sifting through dozens upon dozens of game accounts per civ.

keep in mind balance isn't simply something you can figure out by testing each civ's tech tree on a game or two. it'll only occur after months of playing across (or many) all the permutations offered by the new tech trees. we might find, for example, that trading a certain tech is harmelss except to another particular player.

the issue of balance is also somewhat subjective. no matter how much tweaking is done, i think it's obvious that some people will desire different changes at some times.

finally, getting this thing released sooner rather than later will help provide SD more funding to continue working on it, balancing it and improving it. getting it out there sooner, rather than later, will help provide some of the resources they need to continue improving it for everyone.

i don't personally view beta testing for a new game simply as a chance to 'take months to play through a game.' i'm actively looking for holes and problems, not trying to win and achieve a great score (not as a first goal, anyway).

is it possible for you guys to create a primitive "hive" tech tree? Kind of like to torians, but kind of like thalans. (Like the Zerg from Starcraft) Or are the tech trees user friendly and we can make our own?

Second suggestion: Add the option to make a race not be able to have diplomacy. I know the dreadlords have this feature, I would like it to be expanded to custom races.

Sounds great, however the pre-order page doesn't seem to let me pre order the game with the tokens I bought through total gaming. Hopefully I am just temporarily blind when I try to pre-order, otherwise I would feel a bit duped sitting here with $69 worth of useless tokens.